Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Are Dog Vitamins Really A Necessity For Your Pet

By Lou Manning


Dogs have different nutritional needs that may require them to take dog vitamins. Take those who are on a raw food diet, for example. They are generally suggested to take vitamin supplements in order to make up for the lack of nutrients they are receiving.

Older ones might have to look into them, as well, due to the lesser amount of food that they currently consume compared to when they were younger. This just goes to show how different each pet's vitamin needs really are. Most of the time, these needs will depend on their lifestyle, age, health, diet and breed, though.

Vitamin A is good for the skin as it can help prevent irritable and flaky skin in your pets. Vitamin D, on the other hand, is good for the teeth and bones. Certain breeds, such as golden retrievers, who are prone to hip problems and arthritis would be the ones who would benefit the most from vitamin D supplements.

Vitamin E provides antioxidants. Vitamin K is known to be a blood-clotting vitamin. Vitamin B ensures healthier muscles, blood and skin; and vitamin C is a great antioxidant that can reduce stress at the same time.

While good quality pet food may be advertised as complete with all of the nutrients your dog needs, some people will still argue otherwise. Some premade dog foods can go through a cooking process that strains the nutrients and leaves the food lacking in that department, for instance. There are also foods that include a good dose of recommended vitamins, but do not provide additional ones for protection against illness.

Vitamins are also beneficial in that they can regularize dogs' metabolisms. Also, keep in mind that these types of pets are very active, As such, it would be vital for them to have a balanced digestive system, as well.

These supplements also have a lot of minerals in them that can keep the body fluids balanced. Just like humans, pets need certain minerals in their systems, such as calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium. You have to take heed when it comes to this, though, because certain minerals can affect one another when taken in higher doses.

Generally speaking, this isn't just about giving your pets recommended pills from your veterinarian, either. It is also about adding the right foods into their diet, so that they can get enough nutrition from every meal. Although some dogs may benefit from raw food, you need to ensure that yours get the necessary amount of vegetables in their systems to keep their nutritional counts up.

Some of the packaged dog foods available at the supermarket may lack dog vitamins, as well, which may cause pets to experience vitamin deficiency. So, take the time to read the labels whenever you go shopping for your dog's food.




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